280 BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH.^ 



brown, not green, broadly tipped with white, and subterminally blackish ; 

 lower plumage greyish white marked and spotted with brown ; tail brown, 

 with a few oblique whitish bars and the central pair of feathers produced 

 nearly an inch beyond the next pair. 



For a short period after the breeding-season the males assume a plumage 

 which does not differ very materially from that of the female. They are 

 never seen in Burmah in this state. 



The bill is plumbeous above, the lower mandible, the culmen and a 

 portion of the margins being black ; iris dark brown ; legs and feet plum- 

 beous brown. 



Length up to 28 inches, according to the state of the tail, which is often 

 9 inches in length ; wing 11, tarsus 1*7, bill from gape 2'2. The female, 

 owing to the central tail-feathers not being produced to any great extent, 

 is much shorter, the length being about 22 inches, tail 5, wing 10, tarsus 

 1-6, bill from gape 2'2. 



The male of this species cannot be confounded with that of any other ; 

 the female may be recognized by her sharply pointed tail, the central pair 

 of feathers of which are generally an inch longer than the next. 



The Pintail is generally distributed over Pegu in winter. Mr. Blyth 

 records it from Arrakan ; but Mr. Davison did not meet with it in Tenas- 

 serim, except on one occasion near Moulmein. 



It occurs over nearly the whole of the northern hemisphere from the 

 neighbourhood of the equator up to and beyond the Arctic circle, moving 

 about according to season. 



This Duck, when found, is usually in large flocks. I have observed and 

 shot a considerable number in the Engmah swamp at various times ; and 

 I have also seen it in some of the larger swamps in the plains of Southern 

 Pegu. It may be considered the commonest of the larger migratory Ducks. 

 It is shy and wary ; and its flight is very rapid. It breeds in high latitudes, 

 making a nest on the ground in marshes, and laying a large number of 

 very pale greenish eggs. 



